Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fought through illness to score 40 points and lead Oklahoma City to a 10th consecutive victory on Wednesday while Detroit’s win streak was snapped at 13 games.<\/p>\n
Gilgeous-Alexander, questionable with illness until game time, added six rebounds, six assists and three steals as the defending champion Thunder became only the fifth team in league history to start a season 18-1 or better by outlasting Minnesota 113-105.<\/p>\n
“We’re just taking it day by day, taking the challenge by the challenge,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Whatever it is, we find a way to come out on top and I’m impressed by this group’s ability to do so.”<\/p>\n
The Pistons, however, had their victory run ended at Boston, where a missed Cade Cunningham free throw in the final seconds proved pivotal in a 117-114 loss.<\/p>\n
Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Derrick White added a season-high 27 points, 25 in the second half, as Boston improved to 10-8 on the US Thanksgiving holiday eve.<\/p>\n
“Really makes a statement,” White said. “It’s fun. We can enjoy Thanksgiving then we’ve got another challenge.”<\/p>\n
At Oklahoma City, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Gilgeous-Alexander staged a classic duel, “Ant Man” settling for 31 points in defeat.<\/p>\n
Edwards made a three-pointer with 1:00 remaining to lift the Timberwolves within 105-104, but the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren made a three-pointer and Gilgeous-Alexander sank three free throws in the dying seconds to secure the triumph.<\/p>\n
“We had control of the game early but we knew they were going to fight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It just took us making plays at both ends of the floor down the stretch, figuring out a way to come out of here with a W and we did so.”<\/p>\n
As for his illness, the Canadian looked forward to a holiday revival.<\/p>\n
“I’m good. I’m tired,” he said. “Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I’ll get a lot of food and fuel in me and I’ll be OK.”<\/p>\n
The NBA-best Thunder (18-1) became only the fifth team in NBA history to open a campaign so well, the first since Golden State began 19-0 in the 2015-16 season.<\/p>\n
The Thunder, unbeaten at home, rose to 3-0 in NBA Cup West Group A and can complete a group sweep with a home victory Friday over Phoenix.<\/p>\n
All Wednesday games were in the NBA Cup mid-season tournament, which closes group play on Friday.<\/p>\n
Toronto has clinched the East Group A crown and the Los Angeles Lakers have taken the West Group B title.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three group winners and a wildcard team from each conference advance to the knockout stage, which starts on December 9.<\/p>\n
Minnesota was eliminated from Cup contention by the loss and a 133-128 Memphis overtime win at New Orleans.<\/p>\n
– Pistons foiled late\u00a0–<\/p>\n
At Boston, Cunningham’s game-high 42 points were not enough for Eastern Conference leader Detroit (15-3).<\/p>\n
The Pistons missed out on a club-record 14th consecutive victory, instead sharing the 13-game win streak mark with the 1989-90 and 2003-04 squads that won NBA titles.<\/p>\n
Two Anfernee Simons free throws gave Boston a 115-112 lead with 6.3 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n
Cunningham, the NBA’s top fourth-quarter scorer, was fouled just over mid-court and hurled the ball at the basket, referees giving him three free throws and a chance to level the game.<\/p>\n
Cunningham made the first two but missed the third as the Boston crowd roared. Boston’s Payton Pritchard sank two final free throws and Detroit could not manage a last shot.<\/p>\n
Detroit’s loss left Orlando alone atop East Group B in the NBA Cup at 3-0 with a showdown for the title coming against the Magic on Friday in Detroit.<\/p>\n
Brandon Ingram, who led Toronto with 26 points, sank a jump shot with 0.6 of a second to play to give the Raptors a 97-95 triumph over visiting Indiana, stretching Toronto’s win streak to nine games.<\/p>\n
The Miami Heat (13-6) boosted their win streak to six games with a 106-103 home victory over Milwaukee (8-11), which suffered a sixth consecutive defeat.<\/p>\n
Tyler Herro led Miami with 29 points while Bam Adebayo added 17 points and 11 rebounds.<\/p>\n
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